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PURPOSE: This purpose of this study was to develop and assess a pilot program that embedded physical activity into traditional academic lessons in an afterschool setting.

METHODS: Participants were 33 Hispanic boys and girls (age=12.1 ±0.8 yr) enrolled in an after school program serving economically disadvantaged children. Researchers developed a curriculum that involved children engaging in a variety of physical activities in the after school setting (e.g., dance, games, sports, and outdoor play), along with an integrated academic enrichment component. Children wore activity monitors (pedometers, heart rate monitors, and accelerometers) and recorded their physical activity data after each session using an interactive website. The children then participated in a series of age and grade appropriate academic lessons that involved using the activity data to explore and reinforce important concepts in science, math, and technology. The researchers assessed the effects of the curriculum on improvements in physical activity levels; academic performance including scientific inquiry; and enjoyment of the program.

RESULTS: Physical activity results showed the mean steps (2772 ±580); calories (90 ±21kcal); and distance (1.1 ±0.3 miles) were consistent with national physical activity recommendations for children. In addition, the subjects spent over 50% of the activity time in the moderate-to-vigorous intensity level during the program. Significant increases in science test scores from pre to post (p<0.001) were observed with a 22.4% increase from pre to post curriculum. The children enjoyed the integration of physical activity into science lessons in the after school environment.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings from this pilot program were consistent with an accumulating and impressive body of scientific evidence demonstrating the integration of movement with learning helps to promote physical activity and supports academic achievement in school-age children. The children who participated in this project increased the amount of physical activity in the afterschool setting, while simultaneously improving science achievement skills.

79 Board #2 May 29, 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Increased Physical Activity by Accelerometry in Pre-school Daycare Centers Following Implementation of the NAPSACC Program

METHODS: At baseline and after implementation of NAPSACC, accelerometry was employed to determine physical activity levels in preschool students attending the daycare centers. Actigraph accelerometers (2010 GT3X+ models) were attached to each student for 4.5 hrs per day for 2 days during the school day (total =9 hours) prior to and six months after implementation of the NAPSACC program.

RESULTS: Students in the treatment centers demonstrated significantly greater light and moderate intensity physical activity following the intervention when compared to those attending the control centers [F(1,104) = 5.9, p < 0.05, η2 = 0.054, and F(1,104) = 4.2, p <0.05, η2 = .038, respectively (Multivariate analysis)]. However, no significant differences were observed between the groups in sedentary or vigorous intensity physical activity.

CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of the NAPSACC program in pre-school day care centers results in a significant increase in objectively measured light to moderate intensity physical activity during the school day. Future studies should determine if these effects can be sustained, and whether a longer study duration is needed to observe significant alterations in sedentary or vigorous intensity physical activity.

PURPOSE: To determine the effects of classroom-based physical activity incorporated into academic lessons in Head Start preschools on academic achievement.

METHODS: Fifty-four African American children (mean±SD, age 3.7±0.5y) from a low socioeconomic Head Start program were randomized to Control (CON, n=2 classrooms, n=16 total, n=13 F, n=3 M) or PA (n=3 classrooms, n=38 total, n=25 F, n=13 M) groups for 6 months. The PA program was designed to promote 300 min/wk of moderate to vigorous PA academic lessons (3.0-6.0 METS, ∼30 min each, 2 lessons/day). The Preschool Individual Growth and Development Indicators for Early Literacy and Language (for children ages 3-5y) was administered to assess academic achievement in the areas of picture naming, rhyming, and alliteration. Intensity of classroom PA was measured by SOFIT. All measures were assessed at baseline, 3 and 6 months.

RESULTS: The PA protocol resulted in significantly (p<0.05) greater levels of PA in the classroom during free play at 3 (PA, 10.1±2.1% vs. CON, -3.2±2.1%) and 6 (PA, 22.1±2.3% vs. C, -8.1±2.5%) months than children in the CON, resulting in between-group differences at 3 and 6 months, p<0.01. Picture naming (number of pictures named correctly/min) significantly (p<0.01) improved in the PA group from baseline

(15.0±5.9) to 3 (23.0±7.1) and 6 (24.1±6.6) months compared to no improvement in the CON, resulting in between-group differences at 3 and 6 months, p<0.05. Rhyming (number of rhymes correctly identified/two min) significantly (p<0.01) improved in the PA group from baseline (2.6±3.6) to 3 (4.9±6.0) and 6 (7.1±5.9) months compared to no improvement in the CON, resulting in between-group differences at 3 and 6 months, p<0.01. Alliteration (number of letters sounds correctly identified/two min) significantly (p<0.01) improved in the PA group from baseline (2.3±2.7) to 3 months (3.2±4.0) and was maintained at 6 months (2.9±4.7) compared to no change in CON, resulting in between-group differences at 3 and 6 months, p<0.01. Higher scores for picture naming, rhyming, and alliteration indicate greater early literacy skills and phonological awareness.

PURPOSE: To examine the effects of a 10-week after-school physical activity program on physical activity, aerobic fitness, and body composition in 5 to 12 year olds.

METHODS: Participants (n = 277) from 15 after-school programs were assigned to an intervention or control group. After-school leaders were trained to lead physical activities called After-School Energizers. Participants were assessed at baseline and follow-up on physical activity, body composition, and aerobic fitness. Physical activity was measured for five days during after-school hours with pedometers (n = 277) and accelerometers (n = 112) at baseline and during the intervention. Body composition was assessed with body mass index (BMI), BMI percentile, and percent fat. Aerobic fitness was measured with the PACER 20-meter multistage shuttle run. Repeated measures ANOVA and effect size estimates were used to evaluate changes.

RESULTS: Participants accumulated a daily average of 3,497 (± 2,627) steps and 28.3 (± 13.6) minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) at the after-school program. Approximately 60% of participants met the recommended level of physical activity for after-school programs. Body composition and aerobic fitness were not (p > .05) impacted by the intervention. Physical activity assessed via pedometer demonstrated a significant (p < .001) time x group interaction. Physical activity levels for the intervention group stayed fairly constant, while physical activity levels for the control group decreased by over 800 steps from baseline to follow-up. Accelerometer-derived results demonstrated both intervention (ES = 0.41, 0.31) and control groups (ES = 0.36, 0.23) had low to moderate increases in light and moderate intensity physical activity time. ANOVA results demonstrated no significant effects (p > .05) for MVPA.

CONCLUSIONS: The intervention did not result in improvements, relative to the control group, in physical activity, aerobic fitness, or body composition. It is possible that after-school leaders chose to implement the physical activities used in this intervention during times when participants would have already been physically active (e.g., during gym time or playground time). We documented that many children do not obtain the recommended level of physical activity during after-school programs.

PURPOSE:To investigate the relationship of changes in serum vitamin D with PA patterns and metabolic risk factors over a six-months PA intervention program with overweight/obese youth.

METHODS: 57 overweight/obese youth of both genders, 7-16 year-olds, from Porto public schools comprised the sample and were evaluated pre and post intervention. Measurements included PA patterns (accelerometers), blood analysis (metabolic risk factors - glucose, insulin, HDL and LDL cholesterols, triglycerides; and vitamin D), waist circumference (NHANES protocol), and maturational stage (Tanner criteria). All participants were submitted to a PA intervention program during six months, twice a week, aiming to increase their moderate-vigorous PA patterns. For all the variables measured, the delta (Δ) value was calculated as the difference between the second and the first moment of evaluation. The association between Δ vitamin D, Δ metabolic risk factors and Δ PA patterns were verified through Partial Correlations and adjusted for potential confounders (gender and maturational stage at baseline). The variables that showed a statistically significant correlation with Δ vitamin D were introduced in a multiple linear regression, adjusted for gender and maturational stage at baseline.

RESULTS: Data showed that obese youth were less likely to have low vitamin D values by increasing their vigorous PA (OR=.319).

PURPOSE:To assess the efficacy of completing a daily colorful diary to motivate changes in lifestyle and increase the physical activity level in children

METHODS: 63 children (10.0±0.8yrs) were separated into a control group with no intervention (NI, n=18), an experimental intervention group with (WID, n=22) and without completing the daily colorful diary (WIND,n=23). Anthropometric parameters, body composition, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were assessed pre and post two months of intervention. Also the following physical fitness tests were applied pre and post intervention and control: sit and reach (SR), abdominal (AB); medicine ball throwing (MT), long jump (LJ), a9min race (R9min) and a lifestyle questionnaire (LSQ) for classification of physical activity level (PAL). The NI group only performed the physical fitness tests and completed the LSQ; the WIND group underwent physical tests and LSQ proceedings, besides receiving guidance about healthy lifestyles (GHLS) weekly; and the WID group underwent to the same procedures of WIND and also completed the diary of habits with pasting pictures related to their lifestyles (diet and physical activity) performed daily. The figures related to bad habits (unhealthy ones) were in black and white color, and those related to good habits (healthy ones) were colorful and were delivered to the children weekly. Once a week the filled diary was collected and a new one was given to the children.

RESULTS: Only the WID group showed significant improvement (p=0.02) in PAL after 8 weeks of intervention (144.3±47.5 vs 181.1±55.7) with change from moderately active to active. There was a trend of decreased values of sum of the skinfold, %G and SBP in the WI (-3.4mm; -2.6%; -4mmHg) and WID (-2.1mm; -2.6%; -4mmHg) groups; while the NI group tended to increase them (+1.4mm; +2%, +5mmHg) respectively. Regarding physical tests, the WID group showed significant improvement (p<0.05) in 4 tests (SR:+3.7cm, AB:+6rep; MT:+35cm; LJ:+5.2cm and R9min:+160.5m); WIND in 3 tests (SR:+4.1cm; LJ:+9.5cm and R9min:+139.6m) and NI in only 1 test (MT:+20cm).

Childcare provides a setting to reach children and parents to modify home environments to prevent sedentary behavior. Parental practices (PP) may influence children’s exposure to television (TV) and advertising, but there is little evidence on how to reach and impact children and parents.

PURPOSE:This pilot study evaluated the comparative effectiveness of three different delivery methods for the HOP’N (Healthy Opportunities for Physical Activity and Nutrition) Home childcare program on TV outcomes.

METHODS: The HOP’N program was delivered by research team training staff at full-day childcare (method 1, n=2 settings) or by the county extension/health department training staff at full-day childcare (method 2, n=2 settings) or half-day preschool settings (method 3, n=2 settings). Research staff assessed children (n =66; 5-6 yrs; 61% male; 96% white; 32% overweight and obese) on height and weight and surveyed parents prior to and after the 12-week program. HOP’N Home targeted developing children’s skill in asking their parents for healthful food and physical activity options and media literacy through group time, dramatic play, caregiver prompts, musical social narratives, and home curriculum activities. General linear mixed model regression examined the interaction of delivery method (method 1, method 2, method 3) and time (pre, post) on the measures.